Army Nabs Two Top Terrorists, Receives Surrender of Three Others

In various operations throughout the nation, Nigerian Army troops have detained two prominent suspected terrorists.

A stash of weapons was also found by the military among the suspects who had been apprehended.

According to an Army Headquarters source cited by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the operations that were successful took place between October 7 and October 9.

Emmanuel Akpan, a notorious kidnapping kingpin, was one of the suspects apprehended during an operation by 2 Brigade troops working with the Department of State Services (DSS), which raided the kidnapper’s hideout in Eket, Akwa Ibom.

Known for kidnappings along the Oron/Ibaka axis, Akpan was reportedly captured on October 7 during a joint operation and is presently being held by the DSS for additional investigation.

According to the source, on October 8, while trying to infiltrate the town of Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno, an ISWAP/JAS terrorist was apprehended by soldiers from the 196 Amphibious Battalion.

The suspect pretended to be a surrendering combatant and acted as a logistics and intelligence courier between terrorist camps in Chad and the Niger Republic, according to preliminary inquiry findings.

Along the Lere–Saminaka–Kaduna Road in Kaduna State, soldiers from the 4th Demonstration Battalion stopped two suspects who were transporting 1,307 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

Four cell phones and ₦27,000 in cash were found on the accused. From Plateau State’s Barakin Ladi, the ammo was being transferred to Zamfara.

At Bosso, Niger State, three ISWAP/JAS terrorists—among them a female—turned themselves in to 68 Battalion forces, claiming that their camps were suffering from severe military pressure.

“The terrorists from Konduga and Jabilam who have surrendered are presently being profiled for additional debriefing by security personnel,” he stated.

In a related incident, the source further stated that 222 troops engaged militants in a violent gunfight in Bazamri Village, Konduga Local Government Area, Borno State.

He explained that during the fight, the soldiers found a belt with 150 rounds of 7.62x54mm ammunition and two RPG explosives.

Troops stepped up anti-oil theft efforts in other areas, including Rivers, Delta, Imo, Ebonyi, and Plateau States, where they demolished illicit processing facilities and arrested suspects.

During the operations, soldiers demolished multiple refining ovens, seized boats and vehicles used to transport illegal petroleum products, and recovered 6,650 liters of Premium Motor Spirit.

He went on to say, “The Nigerian Army is still committed to defending its citizens, preventing terrorists from moving freely, and establishing secure environments for peace and economic progress.”